Molecular Marker-Assisted Selection of a New Water-Saving and Drought-Resistant Rice (WDR) Restoration Line, Hanhui 8200, for Enhanced Resistance to Rice Blast

Through backcrossing and marker-assisted selection, gene Pi9 for resistance to rice blast was introduced into the water-saving and drought-resistant rice variety, Hanhui 3. The genetic background identity between Hanhui 8200 and Hanhui 3 was 91.4%. The drought resistance and drought avoidance abilities of Hanhui 8200 were equivalent to those of Hanhui 3. The resistance to rice blast was improved from grade 7 to grade 1. The rice quality of Hanhui 8200 meets the Ministry of Agriculture's grade 3 rice standards. The two-line and three-line hybrids formulated with Hanhui 8200 have high yield potential. Among them, the three-line hybrid Hanyou 8200 (Approval No.: Evaluated Rice 20210073), formulated with Huhan 7A, passed the Hubei Provincial approval in 2021, and the two-line hybrid Hanyouliangyou 8200 (Approval No.: Nationally Validated Rice 20210448), formulated with Huhan 82S, passed the national variety approval in 2021. Both hybrids demonstrated strong resistance to rice blast, moderate resistance to bacterial leaf blight, strong drought resistance, high quality, and high yield.